always there. >>> we're only 33 days away from the so-called fiscal cliff. a drastic combination of mandatory spending cuts, tax hikes that could plunge the u.s. back into a recession. >> and there's only one way to avoid it. house republicans and president obama and his fellow democrats need to strike a deal before the end of the year on reducing the national debt to avoid that fiscal cliff. republican aid describe the tentative white house proposal this way. $1.6 trillion in revenue presented by secretary treasury secretary timothy geithner and stimulus and $400 billion in medicare and other entitlement savings. a permanent increase in the debt limit. >> so, let's get more on the standoff right now. joining us senator bernie sanders of vermont. he caucuses with the democrats. senator, first of all, congratulations on your re-election. thanks for coming in. republicans say, you know what, they'll be flexible, but the democrats have to be flexible, too, especially when it comes to entitlement spending. medicare, medicaid and even reform. are you open to any